09 Jun Telluride Bluegrass: Mountain Grass Unit Debuts at First Grass 6/18; Main Stage 6/19!
The 52nd annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival (TBF) takes place June 19 – June 22.
Passes/tickets and camping still available. Go here to secure your reservation.
Learn more about Planet Bluegrass at www.bluegrass.com.
Go here for more about the history of Telluride Bluegrass. (Back to 2009.)
And scroll down to listen to a podcast featuring Luke Black – also get a taste of their sound. MGU debuts on Wednesday, June 18, at FirstGrass, then Thursday on the Main Stage, June 19.
Left to right) Sam Wilson, Drury Anderson, Josiah Nelson, Luke Black – photo by Teddy Kent.
“… I was almost positive that I saw these guys jamming in the parking lot after a Billy show at Terminal West back in 2019, obviously much younger and a lot has changed since. Caught them live… and confirmed with Drury that they were indeed the ones slaying it in the parking lot. Five years later, these dudes are just absolutely crushing it and I cannot wait to see where they’re heading in the future. Heavily influenced by Billy and crew, but they certainly add their own flair and their originals are insanely good. Very tight band with super good stage energy, incredibly cohesive and you can just see the love they have for the music as they play. Bring it on, MGU!,” said one enthusiastic fan on Reddit.
And yes, as Festivarians can easily confirm Billy Strings is a preternaturally skilled guitarist, soulful singer, and charismatic stage presence. He performed on the Main Stage at TBF in 2018 and opened the weekend last year.
Then there is Tony Rice. The man blended traditional bluegrass with elements of jazz and other styles, creating a sound that was both traditional and modern, incorporating elements of jazz, newgrass, and progressive bluegrass into his style. Tony’s guitar playing set a new standard for bluegrass guitar, making it a lead instrument instead of just part of the rhythm section. He performed at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 2006.
And it’s now Mountain Grass Unit’s (MGU) turn to shine.
MGU- (left to right) Josiah Nelson, Sam Wilson, Drury Anderson, Luke Black – photo by Alex Culbreth
From Birmingham, Alabama, MGU is a young quartet is on a path to redefine bluegrass with a fresh narrative. Comprised of Drury Anderson (mandolin, vocals); Luke Black (guitar, vocals); Josiah Nelson (fiddle, vocals); and Sam Wilson (bass, vocals), the quartet blends traditional with bold exploration.
MGU’s journey began with a shared musical passion, forming a sound that merges bluegrass with country, jazz, funk, rock, and metal influences. Released in 2024, their debut EP, Runnin’ From Trouble, showcases their original music and inventive covers. MGU was inspired by bluegrass legends like Tony Rice and Billy Strings.
This summer, MGU embarks a wildly ambitious tour that will bring the rising quartet’s electrifying performances to audiences nationwide, including Delfest – and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. With their signature fusion of traditional and contemporary bluegrass sounds, MGU is poised to capture and captivate fans, new and old.
Including Festavarians, who will undoubtedly lend their voices to praise as below:
“Should you MGU? 100% yes. One of the best up-and-coming grass acts. They do play a lot of Billy or Billy-adjacent songs, but they rip! Luke Black on the guitar is making his way towards the big guys,” said another fan on Reddit.
For more check out Luke’s conversation with TIO:
And a taste of their sound:
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